Injury blow for Australia, all-rounder to miss first Proteas Test 

Having sustained an abdominal strain during the third ODI against South Africa, Australian all-rounder Cameron Green will not feature in the first of three Tests against the Proteas. 

Australia coach Andrew McDonald confirmed the status of Green's availability ahead of the much-anticipated series opener between last year’s ICC World Test Championship Finalists. 

Green had finished Australia’s last Test series against Bangladesh as their leading run-getter, scoring a century and a half-century during the two matches at home.

The upcoming Test in Durban, starting 9 October, will see Australia and South Africa lock horns for the first time in the longest format of the game since the Proteas etched a historic WTC Final win at Lord’s.

McDonald further confirmed that Green would not bowl this series owing to his recent shoulder issues.

"He's progressing pretty well, all things considered, on the back of the injury that he had to his abdominals," McDonald told reporters in Durban .

"He's still here for a reason, so there is some light at the end of the tunnel.

"It'll just be a matter of going through the rehab. He's got a pretty demanding week this week as he reintroduces a few activities … It's a bit of an unknown, but there's still optimism that he'll take part in the series at some stage."

This adds to Australia's injury concerns with wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglish ruled out of the first Test last week with a fractured right index finger.

Green's absence for the first Test should pave the way for the inclusion of fellow all-rounder Beau Webster, though McDonald suggested this was far from certain.

"I don't think anything's automatic," said McDonald of Webster. 

"The all-rounder has always been there for us, but there hasn't been a huge demand on the amount of overs that that person has to bowl."

McDonald suggested a decision on selection would be left right up until the last minute as the team considers the best XI that will be suited to the conditions in Durban.

"I think the beauty of the squad that we've got is we can go in many directions, depending on what we hypothesize what's going to happen over the five days the day before. So I think we've got all bases covered, which is nice to have that," McDonald added.

"So there's a lot of discussion about which way we can go, and three days out is never the time to start having those discussions. We've got a main session today, so we'll get a bit more information on where the players are at in terms of you know their skill work and how they're placed, and as that surface starts to present closer to the game as to what it may start like, I think that's when we can narrow in."

While Australia lead the current WTC Standings, South Africa occupy the second spot, with both teams in contention to make it for next year's WTC Final at The Oval.

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Sam Harper, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster

Series schedule

First Test: 9-13 October, Durban
Second Test: 18-22 October, Gqeberha
Third Test: 27-31 October, Johannesburg